Parents have a simple, convenient, and secure way to pay for school meals or apply for free and reduced meals.

Parents may access the payment system either online at www.schoolcafe.comor via the School Café mobile app. In addition to preventing lost or stolen money, the system offers secure transactions, accepts Visa or MasterCard, is available 24/7, and is accessible from any internet connection. Schoolcafe.com also shows account balance and purchase history, sends parents a low account balance notification, can provide an automatic payment schedule, offers toll free phone and email support, and can easily split funds between siblings. There is a 5% fee per transaction with a $20 minimum required.

New this year, we are encouraging all families to apply for free and reduced priced meals online. This can be done at www.schoolcafe.com or via the School Café mobile app. Parents who need assistance with the process can access kiosks at all schools during open house. Instructions will also be sent home with students on the first day of school. Online applications provide security for your personal information as well as faster processing. Paper applications will still be available upon request from your child’s school office. Please note that paper applications can take up to 10 days to process due to transit time from the school to the school nutrition office.

Parents should ensure that their children have money for meals each day. The allowable charge limit for elementary and middle school students is equal to the price of two full price lunches at their school. If an elementary or middle school child exceeds the charge limit, he or she will be provided an alternate meal for lunch. No alternate meal will be provided for breakfast. All charges should be paid immediately. High school students and adults are not allowed to charge meals and will not be offered an alternate meal. A la carte purchases cannot be charged and will not be allowed if your child owes a charge.

Operation Christmas Douglas County will once again provide unwrapped Christmas gifts to children who participate in the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Program and their younger siblings.

To participate parents must complete the application by SEPTEMBER 29th for all children ages 0-16. One student per eligible family will receive a "Golden Ticket" during the week of December 4th at their school.

Submit ONE application per family.

Completing this form will not change whether your child receives free or reduced price meals.

Bring the Ticket to the designated pick-up location, as indicated on the Ticket, to receive the gifts for your eligible children.

NO replacement tickets will be issued.

NOTE: It is not necessary to bring identification or for your child(ren) to be present. If you are unable to attend, you can send your ticket with someone else to pick up your gifts for you. Gifts are presorted and will be ready for your family. No exchanges.